WASHINGTON: The US should persuade India to pull back its troops from Indian-held Kashmir so that Pakistan can effectively focus on the fight against terrorism, a key Republican senator said on Monday.

The top Republican on the Intelligence Committee, Senator Kit Bond, and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Democrat Senator Carl Levin, favoured the US economic and security assistance for Pakistan. Asked what the US could do to help Pakistan fight and offset the Taliban influence in northwest of the country, Bond said, “We need to convince India to move its troops off the Line of Control in Kashmir so we, the Pakistani military can move them back to fight the terrorists.”

“But we need to get the Pakistani troops over there (on border with Afghanistan). We can provide them whatever guidance, logistics or intelligence they want,” he added. Levin said, “Only the Pakistanis can save themselves. They’ve got to make a decision what kind of country they want. We can be of assistance to them.” app